Four additional vaccination centres opening this week

FOUR more community vaccination centres will start to treat patients this week.

The centres have been set up at The Kube at Leicester Racecourse in Oadby, Melton Sports Village, Charnwood Borough Council’s offices in Southfield Road, Loughborough and at Rutland County Council’s offices, in Catmose Street, Oakham.

Nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and other NHS staff will work alongside GPs to vaccinate those aged 80 and over, as well as care home workers and residents identified as priority groups.

Two doses of the vaccine are required, three weeks apart, to achieve protection.

Caroline Trevithick, executive director of nursing for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland clinical commissioning groups, said: “We wouldn’t have been able to begin vaccinating patients from as many practices as we have if it weren’t for communities making their buildings available to us.

“It means we will be able to vaccinate greater numbers of patients, close to where they live, than we would out of GP practice premises alone.

“We are extremely grateful for their support in keeping our patients safe while we roll out the vaccine.

“People will be contacted by their GP practice to book their vaccination when their turn comes and they will be

advised where they need to go. Please do not contact your practice inquiring about the vaccine before then.”

Thirteen practices will be vaccinating patients at The Kube conference centre at Leicester Racecourse:

They are:

■ Bushloe Surgery;

■ Rosemead Drive Surgery;

■ Severn Surgery;

■ South Wigston Health Centre;

■ Central Surgery (Oadby);

■ Wigston Central Surgery;

■ Countesthorpe Health Centre;

■ Hazelmere Medical Centre;

■ Northfield Medical Centre;

■ Masharani Practice;

■ Wycliffe Medical Practice;

■ Victoria Park Health Centre;

■ Student Health Centre (De Montfort University).

A spokesman for the directors and management of the racecourse said: “Leicester Racecourse is proud to lend its support to the NHS and the community in the fight to save lives and get everyone’s lives back to normal as quickly as possible.“

In Charnwood, four primary care networks will begin vaccinating patients from their 21 practices at Charnwood Borough Council’s offices:

■ Birstall Medical Centre;

■ Greengate Medical Centre;

■ Silverdale Medical Centre;

■ Thurmaston Health Centre;

■ Alpine House Surgery;

■ Anstey Surgery;

■ Barrow Health Centre;

■ Charnwood Surgery;

■ Cottage Surgery;

■ Highgate Surgery;

■ Quorn Medical Centre;

■ Banks Surgery;

■ Bridge Street Medical Practice;

■ Loughborough University Medical Centre;

■ Park View Surgery;

■ Pinfold Medical Practice;

■ Woodbrook Medical Centre;

■ Charnwood Medical Group;

■ Dishley Grange Medical Practice;

■ Field Street Surgery;

■ Forest House Surgery. Charnwood Borough Council leader Jonathan Morgan said: “I’m pleased the council has been able to assist NHS colleagues with getting the vaccination centre at our council offices up and running.

“The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme is an important step in the fight against the virus and, as a council, we are proud that we have been able to play our part.

“The council has continued to support its residents and businesses throughout the pandemic, and the news that the vaccine is now being offered locally provides hope for the year ahead.”

Melton, Syston and Vale Primary Care Network, consisting of four practices, will vaccinate patients at Melton Sports Village, Burton Road:

The practices are:

■ Latham House Medical Practice;

■ Long Clawson Medical Practice;

■ County Practice;

■ Jubilee Medical Practice. Rutland Healthcare Primary Care Network consists of four practices:

■ Empingham Medical Centre;

■ Market Overton and Somerby Surgeries;

■ Oakham Medical Practice;

■ Uppingham Surgery.